Formerly Skillshare

We all have a skill or service to share

Neighbors helping neighbors…. Timebanking is a simple, social way to connect with others, swap and share skills and services, using time exchange instead of cash. Timebanking is open to individuals of all ages, abilities, employment status or mobility.
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TimeBank Boulder is a dynamic community that connects Colorado Front Range residents and service organizations to each other and to a network of timebanks around the world. For each hour you help someone in the TimeBank Boulder community, you earn one TimeDollar, which you can then ‘spend’ on help from someone else in the TimeBank Boulder community and our global TimeBanking network. Everyone is welcome to join and participate.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Zoom Social – Nov. 1, Wed., 8 to 8:30 p.m.

This free Zoom Social is an opportunity for TimeBank Boulder members and prospective members to connect and have an equal opportunity to share about whatever they'd like. Feel free to ask for advice, promote a cause, express an opinion, etc. There is no agenda except...

Zoom Social – Oct. 15, Wed., 5 to 5:30 p.m.

This free Zoom Social is an opportunity for TimeBank Boulder members and prospective members to connect and have an equal opportunity to share about whatever they'd like. Feel free to ask for advice, promote a cause, express an opinion, etc. There is no agenda except...

RECENT OFFERS

Gift Wrapping
Holiday elves at your service! My partner and I are available to help with all your gift-wrapping needs this season. You provide the gifts and wrapping supplies, we do the wrapping!

House Cleaning
I would be happy to help someone do some standard cleaning! I am fully vaccinated and have been boosted 2x.

Grocery Shopping & Errands
I can run errands for someone who is in need. I am most available to help on Thursday-Sunday, and most available on the weekends.

Decluttering
I have helped people get de-cluttered, and organize their spaces before. Sometimes people just need a little non-judgmental assistance in clearing out the old to welcome the new.

RECENT REQUESTS

Computer Assistance

I am struggling with an issue on my iMac.

Need Computer Mouse

I need a mouse for a 10-year old iMac.

Arts and Crafts

I’d love to sit with someone and do crafts! I’m a creative person, but don’t have many art supplies at my disposal. I would love guidance from an experienced crafter, or anyone who has some creative ideas and wants to have some fun.

Mending and Alterations

I know next to nothing about sewing. I’d love to be able to sew on a button, or mend a tear. I would also be open to learning how to crochet a hat or scarf!

Social Media and Email Advice

Choosing Promotions Emails: I’m on TOO many lists and need reflection about choosing to LET GO. Can do over a zoom meet / screen share process. Need patience and understanding.

FEATURED BLOG

Big Changes!

So, a couple of months ago, I went into hOurworld to renew a member by deducting 8 TimeCredits from their account and I couldn’t find the button for doing that. As I’ll explain later in this article, that led to significant changes in the way TimeBank Boulder (TBB) handles new and renewing members, but first…

Here are five new policies that were adopted by the TBB board of directors at the Sept. 14 board meeting. Following each new policy are some of the rationales for that change.

TBB does not require a cash fee to join

1. Requiring a cash fee to join TBB almost certainly inhibited some potential members from joining, probably because, among other things: a) requiring a payment made them suspicious of our timebank’s motives for wanting more members, and, b) they didn’t want to deal with the hassle of making a payment.

2. Not requiring a fee to join makes the process of onboarding new members much easier.

3. TBB should be able to raise funds by encouraging members to make voluntary donations to our timebank, with reminders on the anniversary of their joining.

4. This change will almost certainly increase the number of members in TBB which should increase the amount donated to TBB on a regular basis.

TBB does not require or expect current members to pay a monetary fee or TimeCredits on the anniversary of their joining

1. Requiring a cash fee or loss of TimeCredits almost certainly inhibited some current members from renewing their membership because they didn’t want to deal with the hassle of making a payment and/or because they weren’t sure it was worth it to them.

2. Not requiring a fee or TimeCredits to renew makes the process of renewing members much easier.

3. TimeBank Boulder should be able to raise funds by encouraging members to make voluntary donations to the timebank.

4. TimeBank Boulder does not need to get TimeCredits from members to stay solvent.

TBB does not deduct 2 TimeCredits from members’ accounts on the anniversary of their joining

1. Deducting 2 TimeCredits from members’ accounts on the anniversary of their joining likely discouraged members from renewing and, for those who did renew, less likely to make exchanges.

TBB now awards members 3 TimeCredits on the anniversary of joining

1. Awarding 3 TimeCredits to members when they renew likely incentivizes them to exchange more.
2. TimeBank Boulder does not need to get TimeCredits from members to stay solvent and can afford to award the

3 TimeCredits to members annually.

TBB automatically continues the membership of each member each year. Members will only be deactivated if a member requests deactivation or if the board of directors determines that a member is detrimental to TBB

1. It greatly reduces the administrative burden for a TimeBank Boulder committee member to not have to receive communication from members that they want to continue their membership.

2. There is no administrative cost to renewing a member who isn’t active in TimeBank Boulder.

Back to how this all came about. When I wasn’t able to renew a member with TimeCredits, I contacted Stephen Beckett. Stephen founded and maintains the hOurworld international website which we use to operate TimeBank Boulder for free. hOurworld hosts almost 400 timebanks serving over 35,000 members with over 3 million hours exchanged.

Stephen advised me that he had updated default settings for all timebanks in hOurworld to reflect changes made in his timebank in Maine which mirror the changes we just made in our timebank. He explained that his timebank and many other timebanks had been experiencing significant declines in their membership and the amount of activity (exchanges), and many of them had ‘managed’ their timebanks into oblivion.

TimeBank Boulder has been experiencing a decline in membership and activity over the last twelve or so years and our recently-adopted policy changes are designed to help reverse those declines.

The board spent a lot of time considering these changes. There was extensive discussion at our August 10th board meeting, then an extensive exchange of thoughts via email, and finally extensive discussion at the Sept. 14th meeting. The consensus was that what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked to enable TimeBank Boulder to grow and be the more vibrant sharing community that we think it can and should be. The board implemented the changes with the understanding that the board will monitor indicators like the number of exchanges and members and the status of our finances to determine if these changes should remain in effect. We will be stressing the importance of 1) voluntary monetary donations from members to TimeBank Boulder to cover expenses, and 2) reducing expenses.

After posting an announcement on hOurworld about these changes, the only feedback I’ve received so far has been positive:

1. “Thanks to you and Board of TBB – Just read your list of TBB board decisions and am pleased and grateful for those decisions to support membership in those ways. Thanks”

2. “They are big changes to how the organization is run, but it seems like existing members will probably take them in stride. Hopefully, the changes will have the intended result of additional new members!”

3. “I really like policy changes! Thanks for all your work.” 4. “Wow big changes!! Seems positive Yay”
5. “It all sounds good to me”

In particular, I look forward to publicizing TimeBank Boulder as an organization with no membership fees and no necessity for the exchange of money in the exchange of services. And I really like that there’s a significantly reduced burden on TimeBank Boulder members who are involved with onboarding new members and maintaining the memberships of existing members.

I’m excited about the future of TimeBank Boulder with these new policies. I’d be happy to provide further information to any members who request it about the rationales for and implications of, these changes and, we would appreciate any thoughts you have for ensuring the continued and increased success of TimeBank Boulder as we move forward with these changes.

OTHER RECENT BLOG POSTS

PAINTING IN ELAINE’S BACKYARD

By Mary Webber For those of you who attended the August potluck in TBB member Elaine Enarson’s Hygiene backyard, you will certainly recall the incredible sight that accompanied our shared meal and stimulating conversation. A rare unobstructed view of Longs Peak...

Big Changes!

So, a couple of months ago, I went into hOurworld to renew a member by deducting 8 TimeCredits from their account and I couldn’t find the button for doing that. As I’ll explain later in this article, that led to significant changes in the way TimeBank Boulder (TBB)...

A Tip About Renewing Offers & Requests

By Melissa Mezger When one posts an Offer or Request, the poster must select an amount of time that the Offer or Request will remain active. At the end of that period, or if the poster goes back into hOurworld and changes the timeline on a currently active post to...

Notes from Your Board: Become One of Us

By Melissa Mezger Have you ever wondered what the TimeBank Board of Directors does? And maybe how to play a bigger part in making our TimeBank thrive? Here’s a brief summary for those interested in the inner workings of our organization, and some info on how to get...

A Time for Gratitude

By Melissa Mezger It’s that time of year when we are reminded to reflect on that for which we are grateful. Even for those who cultivate an attitude of gratitude as a routine part of their life, this can be a time of paying extra attention to the people and things...

Belonging to a social network gives our lives more meaning. As we give to others, we also give to ourselves

87,224

local hours exchanged

19+

Years in Boulder

95

local members

31,289

global network members

Join TimeBank Boulder

Our organization is growing, one new member at a time! Join us and become part of a dynamic sharing community today!
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